When Was The Last Time You Got a "Do Over"?

I saw that the WeWork founder, Adam Neumann, is getting 350 Million dollars for his next venture. Even with the controversy WeWork had, he was able to raise 350 Million dollars. Now, no hate to his comeback, but as a black man, I look at this and think, “Would anyone of color be able to do this? Would a woman be able to get the same support after that disaster?”  Unfortunately, I don’t think so. 

Reading how easily Neumann was able to just bounce back, in such a major way, is very frustrating. So while someone like Adam Neumann is able to do this, Black entrepreneurs are just trying to find someone to believe in  their business in the first place. When it comes to starting a business, there are so many different challenges and steps you have to take. If you are a person of color or a woman, it’s statistically harder to even start a business and if you do, you are faced with so many more obstacles. What you look like matters way too much in this society, especially when you're pursuing to elevate yourself. How can people dream big when they don't get the same opportunities others do?

You could possess a sharp business acumen, be super talented in your craft and still not get the same access to resources and investors as someone with privilege. Although I’ve been able to find success in my endeavors, I have to wear many hats and the hustle is so real. When they say a black man has to work 10 times harder, they aren’t lying. It doesn’t matter how well I cook, how extensive my resume is, I don't receive the same opportunities my peers do. There’s a clear difference when someone has grown up wealthier or looks different than I do. This Adam Neumann deal is an example of that. Like author and businesswoman Katherine Finneey said “It sends a signal that you can really mess up as a white guy and still get second chances to win”. Our communities don’t get “do overs”, let alone million dollar ones. 

An investor for FIELDTRIP once said to me “the difference between black entrepreneurs and white entrepreneurs is that when a white entrepreneur has an idea, they have a group of folks to go to to ask for money, like family, friends, next door neighbors. Our families have so many things to worry about. They’re trying to put food on the table, clothes on their kids’ backs, rent/mortgage, taking a chance is not feasible. I am going to invest in you, so one day I can say I helped this guy get where he needs to be.” 

One of my career goals is to one day be able to be that guy for another kid with a dream. We need to call out these absurd examples of privilege, even if nothing comes from it at the moment. It lets the next generation know, this is not okay, we see them and trust a lot of us are working to change this.